An Introduction to Tarot and the Unconscious Mind

When we’re young, we spend time playing and using our imaginations. With childlike innocence, we are fascinated by everything we see and experience. These are important methods of learning self-awareness, discovering who we are and who we want to be. As we grow older, we become mistrusting and doubtful, we begin to view the world as a threatening place, and we stop seeing the magic.

As children, the veil between reality and imagination is thin and we are able to live in a world where both coexist. It is vivid, playful, and full of wonder. As adults, there is a boundary between these two states and we begin to feel fragmented and empty. We search outside for our source of joy and happiness.

Our unconscious or unresolved thoughts remain within us as we grow older and are projected onto others, or are shown to us in our dreams. We may no longer realise where these images and reactions are coming from, but our responses to them are powerful. These projections are part of our own psyche.

The language of dreams and imagination is rooted in archetypes and symbolism. Once we discover this, we can begin to make sense of ourselves and connect more deeply to our external environment. We understand that everything is interconnected and vibrantly full of life.

Carl Jung said: “Unless we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our life and we will call it fate.” By mindfully experiencing our subconscious reactions, we are able to reclaim our personal power. We then have knowledge about where our personality traits, triggers and fears come from.

We can use tarot to interpret our experiences, and find new ways of relating the inner world of our imaginations to our external world. We identify our reactions as a result of past experiences - trying to heal the inner child, recognising what we fear and dislike in others is facing something we dislike about ourselves, encountering stressful tasks allows us to learn and reach our full potential.

Tarot is a method of interpreting the voice of our unconscious. Their power comes from us and how we relate to the images. If we view tarot through the lens of Jung, each card symbolises an archetype from the collective unconscious. They are the many faces of the self that we carry within us.

Through learning about these archetypes we are then able to create stories and meaning in our lives, and gain the understanding to re-direct our actions and choices towards something positive.

That way, when an old lesson or reaction surfaces, we are aware of it but we are also consciously choosing a new response. This is the process of growth.